Description
A creamy and nutritious Spinach Cottage Cheese Alfredo that combines fresh spinach and cottage cheese for a lighter twist on the classic alfredo sauce. This dish offers a smooth, velvety texture with the richness of Parmesan and the comfort of fettuccine pasta, perfect for a quick and delicious meal any night of the week.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz (225 g) fettuccine or pasta of choice
Sauce and Vegetables
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups (90 g) fresh spinach
- 1¼ cups (300 g) cottage cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Reserved pasta water, as needed
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta type. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté Garlic and Spinach: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the fresh spinach and sauté until wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare Sauce: In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, milk, grated Parmesan cheese, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Blend the mixture until it becomes completely smooth and creamy.
- Cook Sauce: Pour the blended cheese sauce into the skillet with the sautéed spinach. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 3–5 minutes until the sauce is warmed through and slightly thickened.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat it evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water to reach your preferred consistency.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the pasta and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Optionally, sprinkle with red pepper flakes for a mild kick. Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan on top.
Notes
- Use pasta water sparingly when thinning the sauce to avoid making it too watery.
- For a richer sauce, use whole milk or add a splash of cream instead of milk.
- The cornstarch helps thicken the sauce and creates a smooth texture—ensure to blend well.
- Fresh spinach works best, but you can substitute with baby kale or Swiss chard.
- If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
